Hokies Down Rival Virginia for First Time Ever

BLACKSBURG, Va. – For the first time in
program history the Virginia Tech lacrosse team took down No. 7
Virginia, as it topped the Cavaliers 10-9 in overtime Saturday
afternoon at Thompson Field. Senior Jessica Nonn turned it on late
for the Hokies, scoring the team’s final three goals of the
game, including the overtime game-winner.

This is the first ever win for the Hokies over a top 10 opponent,
and the second straight season Tech has defeated a ranked
conference opponent, after it took down then-No. 16 Boston College,
12-11, at Thompson Field in 2011.

With inside six minutes remaining in the game, Nonn began to take
things into her own hands for the Hokies. She tied the game at 8-8
when she put away a free position shot after being fouled, and went
on to win the following draw to keep the ball in Tech’s
hands.

The Hokies (8-5, 1-3 ACC) called their last timeout with just
under three minutes to play and were able to keep the ball and move
things around for the closing minutes. Inside a minute and a half
remaining Nonn was fouled near the Virginia (9-5, 2-3 ACC)
restraining line and took off from there. She worked her way inside
the 8-meter and weaved through defenders to come face-to-face with
the goal and sneak the ball past the goalie.

Though the 9-8 advantage was in Tech’s hands, the Cavaliers
won the ensuing draw and hustled to make something of their final
possession. Josie Owen, who led Virginia with four goals, fired
from a tough angle on the left side of the field, but the shot flew
high and wide. Virginia recovered the loose ball and with 28
seconds on the clock, Owen found her target and bounced the ball
off the ground and into the cage to tie things back up.

Nonn won the following draw and freshman Meg Bartley took the ball
behind the goal to set up a final shot, but was unable to find a
teammate and was forced to shoot as regulation ticked to an
end.

Virginia won the opening draw of overtime, but only took one shot
before the teams had to switch sides for the final three minutes.
This time it was Bartley, who finished the day with five draws,
that won the draw to get the ball in Tech’s hands.

With 2:11 left in overtime, Nonn again worked her way through the
Virginia defense and buried a quick shot to put the Hokies up 10-9.
Tech sealed the win when Bartley claimed the following draw and the
Hokies spread the field to run out the clock.

The very evenly matched game saw both teams use long possessions
throughout regulation to get the production they needed. Play went
back-and-forth all game with both teams leading on multiple
occasions.

Virginia was the first on the board in the game, but it
didn’t last long as senior Ryan Rotanz got Tech started
minutes later when she put away a free position shot to give the
game its first of six ties.

Bartley and Nonn both tacked on goals in the early Hokie run, but
Virginia worked its way back into it with a 4-1 run of its own to
closeout the first half.

A big save from junior goalie Alex Gale opened the second half,
but a miscommunication with her defenders gave Virginia a two-goal
lead, either team’s largest of the game, when the ball got
knocked back into the cage.

Tech overcame the difference and continued to fight as freshman
Megan Will and Rotanz worked to get the Hokies back into it and
each put away goals to tie the game at 6-6.

The two teams finished the first half with nearly identical stat
lines, but Tech finished the game outshooting the Cavaliers 19-18.
Virginia took the edge in the draw, winning 13, compared to
Tech’s 10.

Gale finished the game out and made five saves on the day. In goal
for the Cavaliers was Liz Colgan, who finished the 66-minute day
making three saves.

The win also marks the first overtime game for the Hokies since
the 2009 season. They played two overtime games that year and most
recently topped Old Dominion at home, 12-11, in double overtime
that year.

The Hokies return to action on Wednesday, April 11 as they travel
to Longwood for a 7 p.m. game before wrapping up conference play at
Maryland on Saturday.